Two heroic locals pursued the shooter in Sutherland Springs Texas in a 95mph car chase before keeping a rifle fixed on him and waiting for police to arrive.

Resident Stephen Willeford (pictured above on the left) showed his bravery when he confronted and shot Devin Patrick Kelley when he attempted to leave the First Baptist Church.

Willeford, age 55, is a plumber by trade. He was apparently close by and chose to confront the gunman after his daughter warned him about the massacre.

Willeford has no military experience, however is a very good shot. He is said to have opened fire on the suspect with his rifle, striking him right in between his body armor.

The alleged killer then reportedly dropped his own weapon and fled in an SUV. Willeford then called on witness Johnnie Langendorff (above right) who was also present at the scene.

They both got in Langendorff’s truck and pursued Kelley, who had a bit of a head start. In order to catch up to Kelley, the pair says they hit speeds of 95mph.

Kelley reportedly lost control of the SUV while being pursued and he came to a stop. Langendorff stopped his own truck and Willeford then leaped out, rifle drawn. He kept his rifle fixed on Kelley until police arrived several minutes later.

Officials reported that the suspect was found dead in his car. He may have died as a result of his gunshot wound.

Officials said that Willeford had, “grabbed his rifle and engaged the suspect”.

Langendorff said, “I pulled up to the intersection where the shooting happened and I saw two men exchanging gunfire, the other being a citizen of the community…The shooter of the church had taken off, fled in his vehicle and the other gentlemen came and he said, ‘We need to pursue him, he just shot at the church’. And so that’s what I did, I just acted…He got in the truck and I knew that it was time to go…[Kelley] got a little bit of a jump on us. So we were doing about 95 down 539 going around traffic and everything. Eventually he came to kind of a slow down and after that we got within just a few feet of him and then he got off the road. He just lost control and that’s when I put the vehicle in park, because I was still on the phone with dispatch.”

At least 26 worshippers were killed and at least 20 others were injured when Kelley reportedly opened fire at the white-steepled church